Well-capping device



, awe/whoa 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. O. JOHNSON WE'LL CAPPING DEVICE FiledJan. 7, 1929 Dec. 30, 1930..

W N/mesa Dec. 30, 1930. J JoHNsON 1,786,848

WELL CAPPING DEVICE Filed Jan. 7, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I um/mm PatentedDec. 30, 1930 UNITED STATES JOSEPH O. JOHNSON, OI COALINGA, CALIFORNIAWELL-OAPPING DEVICE Application filed Januar 7, 1m. Serial Io.

The invention relates to im rovements in devices for-capping all sorts oflowing wells,

. whether oil, gas or water, and one object of the invention is toprovide a construction '6 in which a ball valve is gradually seated andheld closed by the pressure discharging from the well casing, after saidvalve has 7 been moved from a recess in which it is normally contained.

Another object of the invention is to provide combined means for forcingthe ball valve out of the recess and for then preventing it fromdropping down the well in case t e pressure holding the valve seated 1should so diminish as to permit said valve to lower from its seat.

A still further aim is to provide the aforementionedthrust member in theform of a tube through which fluid may escape from the well afterseating of the valve, and in this connection, a still further aim is toprovide for the closing of this tube when it is desired to prevent theescape of fluid.

Yet another aim is to make novel provision for normally holding the ballvalve in the recess so that it cannot become accidentally moved out ofthe same.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, the description beingaccomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing the ball valve inits normal posi- 85 tion.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the ball valve seated andthe tubular thrust member extended across the interior of the cappingdevice under said valve.

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the two halves of the cappinghead which is applied to the well caslng.

Within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous variations may bemade and in the present application, I have shown only one form ofconstruction for illustrative purposes. Even though this constructionwill be herein specifically described, it

is to be understood that by 'so doing, I do not limit myself to theexact disclosure.

A capping head H is shown for application to the upper end of a wellcasing C, said head having a passage 6 for communication with thepresent showing, the head H is formedof two sections 8-9 divideddiametrically of the passage 6 and provided with outstanding flanges 10which arebolted together as shown at 11, gaskets 12 of soft metal orother desired material being interposed between the two sections.Tightening of the bolts 11 not only secures these sections together, butclamps them tightly upon the casing C.

The section 8 is provided with a lateral enlargement 13 in which arecess 14 is formed, said recess communicating with'the passage 6 belowthe valve seat 7, said recess preferably having a horizontal lower side,an inwardly inclined upper side and parallel vertical side walls. Theenlargement 13 is also formed with an opening 15 leading from the innerend of the recess 14 to the exterior of said enlargement, said inner endof the recess being preferablyof about hemispherical form.

A ball valve 16 is disposed normally within the recess 14, and a tubularthrust member 17 is threaded into the opening 15. A rod or the like 18passes longitudinally through this thrust member Hand is looselythreaded into a socket 19 in the ball 16, and the outer end 20 of thisrod may well turn laterally at "the outer end of the member 17, so thatthis 'rod normally holds the ball 19 against accidenta dis lacement fromthe recess 14.

pon upward discharge of fluid through the passage 6, the rod 18 may beunthreaded from the socket 19, thereby freeing the ball valve 16. Then,the tubular thrust member 17 is threaded further into the head H, withthe result that it forces said ball valve out of therecess 14 into thepath of the upwardly flowing fluid. This fluid engages the valve 16 withthe seat 7 and such engagement takes place gradually so that there is nosudden shock imparted to the head or casing. After performing its ofliceof forcing the valve 16 out of the recess 14, the member 17 is threadedstill further inwardly until it extends across the interior of thepassage 6 as shown in Fig. 3. in which position, it prevents dropping ofthe valve down the well, in case the pressure should so diminish as topermit unseating of said valve. In this same osition, the member 17 actsto conduct fluid rom the passage 6 and said member may be coupled in anydesired way to a pipe line if it be desired to conduct such fluid to atank, reservoir or the like. \Vhen it is desirable to prevent escape offluid through the member 17, this member may be threaded still furtherinward until its inner end is closed by contact with the head section 9,the interior of this section being preferably recessed at 21 to receivethe inner end of said member 17. The inner wall 22 of the recess is flator otherwise shaped to tightly close the inner end of the member 17.This member, it will be obfjerved, performs a multiple function. First,it inwardly forces the valve 16 from the recess 14, second, it underliesthe seated valve and prevents it from dropping down a well in casedecrease of pressure should permit it to disengage from the seat 7,third, it acts to conduct fluid from the pas:age 6, and fourth, it actsas a valve to prevent such discharge when desired.

On account of the excellent results obtainable from the generalconstruction shown and described, such construction is preferablyfollowed. Attention is again invited to the fact however, that withinthe scope of the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

1. A well capping device comprising a vertical pasfage member having adownwardly facing valve seat at its interior and a lateral internalrecess below said seat, a ball valve normally disposed in said recess,and tubular means extending from the exterior to the interior of saidpassage member for forcing said ball valve out of said recess and forthen conducting fluid from said passage member, said valve beingco-operable with said seat.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1; said tubular means being mountedfor movement across the interior of the passage member under the seatedball valve.

3. A well capping device comprising a vertical passage member having adownwardly facing valve seat at its interior and a lateral internalrecess below said seat, said passage member being formed also with anopening from its exterior into said recess, the axis of said openingbeing transverse to said passage member, a ball valve normally in saidrecess, a tubular thrust member having one end normally positioned insaid opening whereby said thrust member may be inwardly moved to forcesaid valve from the recess into the path of fluid rising through saidpassage member, said valve being formed with a threaded socket disposednormally at the inner end of said thrust membeigand a rod passing lon'tudinall through said thrust member am; loosely t readed in said socketto hold the valve'against accidental movement from said recess.

4. A well capping device comprising a vertical passage member having adownwardly facing seat at its interior and a lateral internal recessbelow said seat, said passage memher being formed also with an openingfrom its exterior into said recess, the axis of said opening beingtransverse to said passage member, a ball valve normally in said recess,and :1V thrust member inwardly insertible I 2 through said opening totorce sald ball valve out of said recess, allowing upward fluid pressure to engage said valve with said seat, said thrust member being thenmovable across the interior of said passage member under the seatedvalve. said thrust member being tubular to conduct fluid from thepassage member.

5. A structure as specified in claim 4; said passage member having aninterior face against which the inner end of said tubular thrust membermay beheld to prevent discharge of liquid therethrough when desired.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

JOSEPH O. JOHNSON.

